The Origins and Development of the Zimbabwean Crisis

ISBN-13: 9783838344225 / Angielski / Miękka / 2010 / 104 str.

Maxwell Zhira

Opis

How did Zimbabwe, a country once regarded as a paragon of hope and development in Africa, descend into economic ruin and social chaos in less than a decade? Maxwell Zhiras book offers a comprehensive answer to this controversial question, going beyond the widespread, yet limited perception that Robert Mugabe is the sole architect of Zimbabwes troubles. Zhira provides a more nuanced picture, which explores and emphasizes the role of colonial land alienation, racism, and tyrannical governance. He shows how these are entangled with the recent revival of militant nationalism in Zimbabwe, and its confrontation with a hegemonic neoliberal democratic ethos, the central ideological stance of the opposition political movement. Zhiras book is innovative because he stresses the nature of conjuncture in understanding historical causation. Written in a highly accessible language and style, Zhiras book is relevant to teachers and students of African history, political science and development studies, at many levels, and especially to the people of Zimbabwe, whose painful experiences have educated the entire world.

O autorze

Maxwell Zhira is an interdisciplinary Ph.D student in the departments of History and Classics and Political Science at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Maxwell's research explores contemporary political, economic, and social change in Zimbabwe and Africa. He also likes nature, sports and community growth.